Class Updates November 24th
Dates to Remember
- November 24—Deadline Musically Speaking!
- December 1—Executive Committee Meeting at Oscar’s at 12:30 p.m.
- December 3—Willow Creek Adult Day Care Center at 10:15 a.m.
- December 6—Forever Plaid at Cumberland Theater at 2:00 p.m.
- December 9—Frostburg Village Nursing Home at 2:00.
- December 15—Christmas Quarterly and Silent Auction at Midland Fire Hall – 12:30 p.m.
- December 15—Westernport Masons Lodge at 8:00 p.m.
- December 22—In Class Christmas Party – Potluck!
- December 29—NO CLASS!
- January 5—Classes resume and Executive Committee Meeting at Oscar’s – 12:30 p.m.
- January 15—George’s Creek at 11:45 a.m.
Ellie went over the Dates to Remember as shown above these Updates and on the white board in the Keyboard World Classroom. She stressed that people should be paying Rosie Morgan for the meal at Midland Fire Hall on December 15th. We will need to give Phyllis Cullen a headcount by December 8th.
January 15th is a new gig at George’s Creek Adult Day Care Center. The sign up sheet will be posted in the sign up book next week, December 1st.
For all gigs between now and the end of the year, you may wear a Christmas top instead of your Notables shirt if you wish. This is not mandatory, however.
Please don’t forget that we will have a POTLUCK luncheon at Keyboard World as our In-Class Christmas Party on December 15th. Please bring a covered dish for that date. Also, for the Quarterly Christmas Party on December 15th, we are asking that you bring one item or MORE for the Silent Auction. Details of the Christmas Quarterly will be spelled out in the upcoming Musically Speaking which will be out very soon. The deadline for the Musically Speaking was today. If you have not turned in your contribution to the newsletter, please do so ASAP via email or telephone or you will miss this issue. Thank you!
Class today began with a variation from the usual presentation. Jeanne Otto had prepared Silent Night, which she presented by playing the song on the Holiday Classic Lowrey Organ, using the organ sound and the Waltz background rhythm at a tempo of 84. She spoke, using the lyrics of the song, for the first several measures; then she began to sing the lyrics from there to the end of the song. On the second time through the song, she invited the class to join in the singing with her. Jeanne sang beautifully by herself, and the group did very well when they joined in, too. On her own organ (Century) Jeanne used the acoustic guitar, but she could not duplicate that sound on any of the classroom organs, so she used the organ sound instead. A lovely performance that involved everyone in the class. Jeanne, you played beautifully and sang beautifully—nervous or not! Excellent! Thank you very much!
“SomeBettyelse,” named Betty Twigg played next. Her song was performed on the Odyssey Lowrey Organ using the Fox Trot background rhythm, sans Orch Plus. Her tempo was 90. For her voices in the right hand, Betty had on Rhythm Preset, plus Strings, Vibes and Clarinet. She played a Customized Ending, flipped octaves for variation, and ended with her signature right hand rhythm on the final chord. Excellent, Betty! Thanks very much.
Rosie Morgan played I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day on the Star Dust Lowrey Organ. On the first line, she used no rhythm and the Chimes for her introduction; then she went into the song by adding the March (Toys Variation) at a tempo of 70. Her voices in the right hand were Vibes and Bells and Chimes. Rosie flipped octaves to enhance the sound, rolled the notes of some of the chords, and added right hand harmony here and there. Rosie’s registration was recorded on a disk. She also used a partial glissando. So lovely. Another perfect performance, Rosie. Everyone enjoyed that rendition very much. It was so good that Joe was ashamed to follow you when it was his turn! Excellent!
Joe Radcliffe played What Did I Say to Old St. Nick on the Star Dust Lowrey Organ. He used the Broadway background rhythm (New York Swing variation). His tempo was 120. Joe’s voice in the right hand was the Organ Sound. He’s still having trouble seeing since his cataract surgery, but he did a fine job playing this new song today. Great, Joe! Thanks very much.
Shirley Hoopengarner then played Home for the Holidays on the Star Dust Lowrey Organ. Her background rhythm was the Broadway (Sleighride variation) Her right hand voice was Rhythm Preset (Strings and Bells). Very “Christmasy!” Excellent, Shirley. Thanks very much!
Diane Lynch played What Did I Say to Old St. Nick on the Odyssey Lowrey organ. Her background rhythm was Fox Trot at a tempo of 140, and her right hand voice was Rhythm Preset (Strings). She played a fade-out ending. Excellent, Diane! Thank you!
Rosie Morgan also played What Did I Say to Old St. Nick. She used the Star Dust Lowrey Organ, playing on the Fox Trot (Charleston variation) background rhythm. She changed general presets, going right up the line and used AOC. She used a number of different sounds; she also switched octaves effectively and ended the song with a downward glissando. Her tempo was 140. Excellent, Rosie. Thank you!
Jeanne Otto played a song which was new to her, O Come Little Children. She used the Big Band background rhythm at a tempo of 84 on the Odyssey Lowrey Organ. Her right hand voices included Rhythm Preset, as well as Vibes/genius voice, Pipe Organ and Clarinet. Jeanne used the 4-Part AOC. Excellent, Jeanne. Many thanks!
Sylvia Twigg said she hadn’t had a chance to practice What Did I Say to Old St. Nick, but she “practiced” in class on her first performance of the song. She did fine, too. Sylvia did not use any automatic rhythm; rather she used the Easy Button. She used Orchestra Voices with AOC (genius) and played a fade out ending. Great, Sylvia. Now you know a new song! Well done. Thanks!
Mike Gallaher played White Christmas on the Premier Lowrey Organ. His background rhythm was the Ballad (50’s Love Song variation) at a tempo of 96. His voices in the right hand included Rhythm Preset, Accordion/Strings and a genius voice. Excellent, Mike. Many thanks!
Harold Hoopengarner also played White Christmas. He used the Star Dust Lowrey Organ. His background rhythm was Soft ‘n Easy (Guitar Strings Variation) at a tempo of 72. His voices in the right hand were Chimes, Strings, and Rhythm Preset. Harold played the descending scale at the end of the song as his introduction. Great, Harold. Thanks so much!
The class members each selected an organ to play White Christmas in ensemble format as assigned last week. Rosie and Jeanne led the group in an effort to keep everyone together. Everyone selected an appropriate right hand voice and Ellie gave the group the downbeat. The group did well, but got out of sync a bit. One problem was that Ellie was counting from Jeanne’s sheet music, which was slightly different from the copies which Ellie had distributed to everyone else.
We will continue with White Christmas again next week and will also attempt Away in a Manger. Ellie will have copies available, though I’m sure you can find that song to practice during this week.
We ate lunch (all 14 of us) at Bob Evans today. Remember that next week we will be at Oscar’s because of the Executive Committee Meeting.
If you are interested in attending a Christmas performance of Forever Plaid at the Cumberland Theater on December 6th, please let Rosellen Morgan know as soon as possible. Ten people signed up to go in class today. If we can get a total of 20 our price of $20 per person will be reduced to $15. You must contact Rosie immediately as the performance is a week from Sunday, and reservations must be made so we can sit together. Thanks!
See you next week! Don’t forget your money to pay Rosie for the Christmas Party meal ($10). Many thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Stay safe.
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